President appoints new PM in Burkina Faso

By Alaattin Dogru

DAKAR (AA) – The president of Burkina Faso on Monday appointed a new prime minister following the resignation of the former prime minister.

Prime Minister Paul Kaba Thieba and the government resigned Friday.

Thieba did not give an explanation but a rising wave of terrorist attacks is thought to be behind the move.

In a statement on Twitter, President Roch Marc Christian Kabore said that he appointed Christophe Dabire to drive the government, wishing him success.

Dabire, who is not a member of the ruling party, is a former Commissioner for the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).

He also served as Health Minister, Secondary Education Minister and President of the National Assembly’s finance and budget committee.

The Cabinet changes are believed to be related to the security crises Burkina Faso has been struggling with in recent months.

The West African country has been battling terrorist attacks since 2015, which have taken 300 lives, according to official figures.

A state of emergency has been in effect since Jan. 1 in several provinces near the borders with Mali and Niger.